meaʻai momona
The Hawaiian word for dessert is meaʻai momona.
This term is used to refer to a sweet confection served as the last course of a meal.
Meaning: sweet confection served as the last course of a meal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The term meaʻai momona is a noun phrase and does not change its form for pluralization.
Did you know?
- While meaʻai momona is used for dessert, the adjective momona can also be used to describe a person who is plump or healthy.
- The root of momona can be traced back thousands of years to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian languages, connecting Hawaiian sweets to ancient Southeast Asian linguistics.
- In many Polynesian languages, including Māori and Tahitian, the word momona shares the same root to describe things that are 'fat', 'soft', or 'tasty'.
Example conversation
Noelani and Kai are finishing dinner at a restaurant.
- NoelaniKai, e nānā i ka menu meaʻai momona.Kai, look at the dessert menu.
- KaiʻAe, e nānā au.Yes, I will look.
- NoelaniE pili ka meaʻai momona i ka puaʻa?Does the dessert go with the pork?
- KaiʻAʻole, he mea ʻokoʻa ia.No, it is something different.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries momona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
